NYCFC Faces Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup Opener
New York City FC hosts Santos Laguna in the Leagues Cup opener on Aug 7, 2026. Watch live as NYCFC seeks a path to the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
New York City FC (NYCFC) kicks off its Leagues Cup campaign with a high-stakes clash against Mexico’s Santos Laguna on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. The match, scheduled for 6:30 AM WIB at Sports Illustrated Stadium, serves as the opening test for The Pigeons in the inter-league tournament featuring clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX.
The objective is clear. NYCFC aims for its first trophy in the competition and a coveted automatic berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Fans can catch the action live via Apple TV.
Manager Pascal Jansen enters the fixture with a mixed record. NYCFC recently stumbled in domestic play, settling for a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC. Despite dominating the metrics with an expected goals (xG) ratio of 2.21 to 1.16, the squad failed to seal the victory after Nicolas Fernandez converted an early penalty.
Jansen expressed frustration over his team’s inability to sustain pressure after taking the lead.
We did not continue to play.
The squad has shown tactical flexibility recently. During a late-July match against the Columbus Crew, Jansen deployed a 4-3-3 formation featuring Matt Freese in goal, with a forward line of Agustín Ojeda, Bénie Traoré, and Malachi Jones. While the official lineup for the Santos Laguna match remains unconfirmed, this structure highlights the options currently at the manager's disposal.
Despite the recent draw, NYCFC carries some positive momentum from earlier league results. The team previously secured a 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire and a 2-1 victory against the Columbus Crew. Nicolas Fernandez has been a standout performer, finding the net in three consecutive matches, while goalkeeper Matt Freese provided four critical saves against Toronto FC to keep his side in the game.
Santos Laguna arrives as a formidable opponent from Liga MX, leaving NYCFC with little room for error. The match acts as an immediate litmus test for the New York side. Jansen emphasized that the team must maintain its energy levels throughout the full 90 minutes.
If you play well enough to earn a penalty, that is one thing, but you must continue playing like that or even push the gas pedal when you see the opponent struggling to play against us. However, we did not do that.
